Philippines: Thousands express dismay over ‘revision’ of history — “Ferdinand Marcos was no hero”

(philstar.com) | Updated December 1, 2016 – 12:12am

Protesters converge at the People Power Monument in Quezon City on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016 from afternoon till midnight to oppose the burial of late President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Robertzon Ramirez/Twitter

MANILA, Philippines – Protesters of mostly young people occupied the People Power Monument in Quezon City on Wednesday decrying government’s attempt to revise history in allowing the burial of dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Heroes’ Cemetery.

Despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s insistence that Marcos was not buried as a hero, protesters opposed the move as violating democratic principles and symbols by honoring the long-dead strongman.

Organizers estimated the crowd at the monument alone at 30,000 at around 8:45 p.m., while the Quezon City police reported a conservative count of 3,000. Other unofficial estimates also reached 50,000.

Former Sen. Roberto Tanada, a human rights lawyer, urged Duterte to retract his order to have Marcos laid to rest among heroes.

Maria Serena Diokno, who resigned from her post as the chair of the National Historical Commission on Tuesday, said people should not allow Martial Law to return. Marcos’ martial law is considered among the darkest periods of history when thousands who opposed the authoritarian leader were killed or tortured.

Diokno said she has talked to historians and academics to help mend educational gaps on the period.

“They are ready to go around schools and offices to talk about Martial Law,” Diokno said at the rally.

Other demonstrations, meanwhile, were also staged at various sites such as at Plaza Miranda in Manila and Plaza Independencia in Cebu City against Marcos’ burial earlier during the day, a nationwide holiday commemorating the birth of 19th century revolutionary leader Andres Bonifacio. – Reports from Jonathan de Santos and Patricia Lourdes Viray